Batf
 

OVERSIGHT HEARING SET ON
BATFE ABUSE AT RICHMOND, VA GUN SHOWS

On February 15, the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security will hold an oversight hearing to investigate apparent wrongdoing by BATFE at a Richmond, VA gun show last August.

In 2004-05, a troubling pattern emerged at a number of Richmond, VA-area gun shows, where hundreds of BATFE agents and state and local police staked out local shows. Immediately upon learning of these incidents, NRA began investigating and working to ensure congressional oversight hearings would be held to determine any wrongdoing and ensure BATFE was not overstepping its bounds or violating the law.

BATFE agents copied lawful gun purchase transaction records and provided this information to local police officers, who in turn conducted "residency checks." Federal law prohibits the release of this information except to state and local police to identify prohibited purchasers or recipients of guns. The information provided to local police prompted multiple instances of officers showing up at the homes of those who lawfully purchased firearms from licensed dealers at area gun shows. On occasions when the lawful purchasers were not at home, agents questioned family members (for example, inquiring of a wife if she knew her husband was at a gun show and/or had purchased a firearm) or their neighbors. In other cases, reports surfaced of lawful gun owners and holders of valid carry permits having their firearms confiscated.

Those interested in watching the hearings online may do at http://judiciary.house.gov/schedule.aspx

Tom, thanks much for the update.

--Dwight

It's a very sorry situation. I hope they get more than a slap on the wrist for this abused of power.

I can't get that link to work. It says object not found.

The link has been corrected... (there was a period on the end that didn't belong there...)


Try the link now.

Thanks John, link works now, I should have looked at it closer before complaining.

Reminder, the hearings are tomorrow at 1630hrs East coast time.

http://judiciary.house.gov/schedule.aspx

It seems to me that federal laws were violated. If these "Gestapo" tactics go unpunished, then confidence in our system will be degraded.

If I recall, this happened at Reno about 1.5 years ago. Undercover BATF shut down the entire hall for a few hours while checking (and making copies and notes) of previous sales made that day and the previous 2 days.

wworker- You mean there is still confidence subject to being degraded??
Its like they admit they were going in checking on blacks buying guns and to appear not to be profiling they do the same to whites-bothof which are way outside the bounds of the law- then go after women as they have "profiled" them as always being straw purchasers (read that -gift buyers which is not a straw purchase or buying for felon boyfriends -which is)

Perhaps this is a good time to post this again, it's been a few years since it was here....
http://www.gunowners.com/batf.htm

Actually, I recommend that ypu print it out and keep it where you can find it.